Teacher Education

Computer Science Endorsement

Program Description

The Computer Science Endorsement program prepares individuals to teach computer science in grades 6-12. Prior to entering the program, the candidate must be enrolled in an initial teacher certification program or have successfully completed a degree in a teacher education field and obtained a teaching certificate. Candidates must be accepted for admission into Columbus State University and those enrolled in initial certification programs must also be admitted into the College of Education and Health Professions Teacher Education Program.

Admission Requirements

Undergraduates wishing to enroll in the Computer Science Endorsement program must apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program. Requirements for admission are:

Completion of EDUC 2130: Exploring Learning and Teaching (or approved equivalent) with a grade of C or better

Completion of 45 earned semester hours in the core with a GPA of 2.50 or better, including transfer credit

Completion of nine earned semester hours at Columbus State University with a minimum institutional GPA of 2.5 (required of all transfer students)

Satisfactory performance on the Regents' Test

Satisfactory performance on the GACE Basic Skills tests, or an exemption based upon satisfactory scores on the SAT, ACT, or GRE.

Good academic standing during the semester in which admission is requested

Completion of a background check indicating no criminal record or discharge from the armed services that could prevent recommendation for teacher certification

Have not been withdrawn, removed from or denied admission to a teacher education program or student teaching at CSU or another institution.

Individuals who do not hold a clear renewable teaching certificate and wish to enroll in the Computer Science Endorsement program at the graduate level must apply for graduate admission to a Master of Arts in Teaching program and meet the following requirements:

Degree in related field or a minimum of 25 semester hours of approved coursework

Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 (regular admission) or 2.50 (provisional admission) on all undergraduate work at an accredited United States institution in fulfillment of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree

Minimum score of 800 (regular admission) or 700 (provisional admission) on the general portion (quantitative and verbal) of the Revised Graduate Record Exam (GRE) with "writing assessment" component; minimum score of 3.5 required on GRE writing component OR passing scores on the GACE content examinations required in the intended teacher certification field

Passing score on the GACE Basic Skills Tests [Reading (200), Mathematics (201), Writing (202)] or exemption through satisfactory scores on the SAT, ACT, GRE, or having a masters degree or above from a PSC-accepted accredited institution

The successful applicant must not have a criminal record or discharge from the armed services that would prevent recommendation for related teacher certifications

Criminal background check

Individuals holding a clear renewable teaching certificate and wishing to enroll in the Computer Science Endorsement at the graduate level must apply for graduate admission and meet the following requirements:

Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 (regular admission) or 2.50 (provisional admission) on all undergraduate work at an accredited United States institution in fulfillment of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree

A clear renewable teaching license or documentation of eligibility for certification (approved program completion and applicable licensure exam scores)

The successful applicant must not have a criminal record or discharge from the armed services that would prevent recommendation for related teacher certifications

Online Options

Courses are offered online. The practicum course (EDUT 5455) requires candidates to spend a minimum of 60 hours during the semester in a computer science classroom setting (e.g., local school, evening classes, summer camps), including at least 15-30 hours of observation at a local school (grades 6-12) that includes basic Computer Science in its curriculum.

Career Opportunities

Upon successful completion of the program, candidates will be eligible for the Computer Science Endorsement from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

Curriculum

The graduate endorsement in computer science consists of six courses, and the undergraduate endorsement consists of eleven courses. Coursework is designed to prepare practitioners who are equipped with communication and teaching skills and who desire a high level of technical competence and exposure to computer programming and systems development and implementation. The program is content intensive; therefore, teachers must be creative problem solvers, lifelong learners, and change agents in their school environments. To instill and reinforce these skills, opportunities for problem solving, reflection, and meaningful learning will be embedded in the course work, and candidates will be required to extend their university classroom learning into their own school situations and on to their own students. As candidates progress through their content courses, they will be expected to build upon their prior experiences with assessment as they are exposed to a variety of assessment strategies for computer science.

Candidates who have previously earned a bachelor's degree in computer science or have taken computer science courses at another college or university may, at the discretion of the TSYS School of Computer Science and College of Education and Health Professions, substitute equivalent courses for required courses in the program.